News Center

Al Ain beat hosts Dubai 2-1 to collect first three points

Al Ain opened their account in Group "A" of the Etisalat Cup Competition with three valuable points following a 2-1 victory over hosts Dubai in the concluding day of the second round match played this evening at Dubai Sports and Cultural Stadium. The two teams ended the first half with a 1-1 draw. The winners moved forward to take fourth position with three points, while the losers dropped to fifth place with the same balance of points, but their loss in today's head-to-head match forced them two steps downward.

Al Ain did not wait long before taking the lead only three minutes into the game when Argentinean player Skoko headed the ball home into the right hand side of Dubai's goalkeeper Jamal Abdullah who failed to control the ball before it crosses the goal line. The hosts made some good efforts afterwards trying to level the score and their Guinean striker Abu Bakr Camara was almost to make it 1-1 when Abdul Aziz Fayez of Al Ain committed a severe blunder inside the box had not for keeper Waleed Salim tipped Camara's close-range shot over the cross bar for a corner in the 9th minute. But only two minutes have passed after the lost chance before Camara  came again to find the back of the net off a cross ball switched from the right flank by his countryman Simon Fondono that beat Al Ain's defenders and custodian Waleed for the unmarked Camara to drive it into the empty net  making it 1-1.

The two teams restarted to look for the winner but things seemed a little bit difficult for the front liners after the strong and solid display shown by the defenders of the two contenders.

Al Ain's midfielder Rami Yaslam tested his luck off a strong volley but it flew over the cross bar in the 30th minute. The Moroccan player Nabil Al Daoudi also squandered a sitter for Dubai team when he collected the ball on the right flank, entered the box before sending a strong shot, but Al Ain's goalkeeper Waleed deflected the ball to a corner.

The visitors controlled the game more better creating a number of scoring chances. They were awarded a penalty in the last minute of the first session when Saudi player Yasir Al Gahtani was fouled inside the box. But Dubai's goal keeper saved bravely Skoko's penalty kick which hit his hands and then the cross bar as well, returned to Skoko but it was cleared away by a defender.

Al Ain continued their superiority after the break over the hosts team putting more pressure on their rivals' defence. Their hard work soon yielded the second goal when defender Faris Juma'a launched a severe long-range shot that beat the goalkeeper Jamal Abdullah and rebounded off the upright for Yasir Al Gahtani to slam it home in the 56th minute. It was the first goal for the Saudi star with his new team Al Ain.  

Th visiting team's Romanian coach Cozmin, pulled out Rami Yaslam in the 57th minute and fielded in debutant Gyan Asamoah from Ghana who was close to score but his strong volley was saved by the goalie.

Hassan Mohammad squandered a sitter for Dubai in the 77th minute when he sent the ball into the keeper's hands and Al Gahtani lost a similar opportunity for Al Ain seven minutes later.

Both teams went on their attempts but could not add more goals to end the match with a 2-1 hard fought for Al Ain. Ahmad Malalla from Dubai squad was given marching orders in the last minute due to bad conduct.